My Scientista Symposium experience is one I go back to in my head and yapp and yapp to people about when I want to feel super cool. Because let’s face it, if you were there, you know we were all pretty cool! I was in a room with more than 200+ women who all geek out about science. That’s my crew right there.

You should’ve seen me the first day of the event. I probably took way more time than I needed picking the ‘right’ outfit. After all, I was in NYC! I can’t even begin to explain to you how nervous I was, I wanted my first impression to be perfect. I walked through the streets, trying to compile all the ‘sciencey’ things that make up my persona, and was relieved when I found the Microsoft Building in the heart of midtown. However, it turned out I had nothing to be nervous about. The girls from the organizing committee were the sweetest people I have met. Pressure was off, and in exchange, I was overflowing with feelings of excitement and eagerness. We all owe a big round of cheers for those ladies. They work hard. At times, I could barely catch a glimpse of any of them, as they went back and forth making sure every attendee was well attended to and having fun.

During my first day, I helped give out the badges at the front door. Oh gosh...talk about qualifications. Microbiologists, genetics PhDs, statistical analysis majors - plus other chemists like me! It was like getting invited to the coolest party ever. Our first keynote speaker, Sara Laschever, gave us some stats on gender and ethnicity issues facing STEM careers today, a topic that’s at the forefront of everyone’s minds. While progress towards increasing diversity in STEM was evidenced alone by the different backgrounds of the attendees, it’s shocking that this is still a major issue in 2018. It definitely had to be discussed right off the bat! We were all there to share our story and work towards a more accepting and label-free environment for women in STEM.

After the keynote speaker, we were instructed on what our options were for the afternoon: a career fair or the opportunity to have a professional photographer take our headshots for free. I learned that this is something that can be pricey and is definitely helpful in your professional development. However, I’ll admit to only having gone to one other small career fair in my life, so I decided to head to the first room full of booths and tables. I braced myself, breathed in and out about fifty times, and started walking around the multiple floors where the recruiting teams were located. Going into a room felt like walking into a convention center. It was crowded, and everyone had their eyes set on something. Lines started to form behind tables belonging to companies such as Schrodinger, Google, and Thermo Fisher. People clung to their resumes while engaging with the recruiters and talking about their experiences and passion for the field. I can’t lie, I was pretty scared myself. I thought, who am I to talk to these people? Wrong! This is where the real advice comes in, the nitty gritty…. As I approached one of the recruiters and told them what I was doing there, how I practically felt like ‘the mole,’ I was able to get the lowdown on the best way to talk with representatives at a career fair.

‘Mostly everyone is overqualified here,” said one of the company representatives. “All of our applicants have perfect GPAs, perfect volunteer opportunities...it really boils down to what makes them different from all of our other applicants- be it a sport, a charity they’re fond of, a family story, etc. We want real people.”

Similar to my new acquaintance’s perspective, other recruiters felt the same way. They understood how nerve-racking it can be for most of us to have all of our preparation boil down to a conversation lasting just a few minutes. They know that you’ve done the hard work- they mainly want to know why you want this so badly. What drives you to want to work with them in particular?

Besides learning about the companies looking to hire STEM graduates, I learned a lot about the ‘how-to’ of a career fair. Another tip? Do your research! Google the company prior to the fair, even if you only have a few minutes to cram. It will show the rep that you’ve made an effort to get to know them and their mission. You don’t want to ask the most basic questions about the company to get the same information that’s available online. Take the opportunity to talk with a real person, one-on-one, to find out what makes their company a good fit for you. It’s just as important as demonstrating that you would be a good match for them, and it allows you to highlight exactly what niche you could fill if you became an employee.

Another key when planning your symposium trip - business cards! I met so many people and the same question came up over and over: “Can I have your business card?” Well, you could...if I had one. Sometimes recruiters or investors don’t have the space or time to go through your whole resume right there, but if you give them your business card, they have something to trigger their memory later on. Business cards are really inexpensive. At times you can even ask your workplace to get you some!

Do you get a bit nervous like me? Prep what you’ll say in your head. Think of three things you always want to cover when talking to someone. If you freak out, like I’ve done, then you at least have a mini-script to work from so you can go on autopilot while you get your bearings. But honestly? Don’t sweat it! Recruiters see so many people a month that being yourself is the best bet. The right workplace for you will be the one where you can be who you are.

My last point is to always remember you’re surrounded by other successful and capable women (like you!), and we’re all here to help each other out. Don’t be shy about being ‘blunt’ or asking for recommendations for strategies that help when it comes to applying for a specific job or company.

Did you have an amazing experience too? Don’t forget you can share it with us below in the comments or let us know on Twitter and Facebook. Also, be sure to check out the Scientista Instagram for all the cool pictures shared during the symposium.

About the AuthorKarelly is from Monterrey, MX and recently moved to the U.S to become a Chemistry undergrad in Portland, OR. She plans on becoming a Science Communicator and advocate for Women in STEM. She runs her own blog thesolutionisk.com along with her Instagram page: KarellyRG. She hopes to soon start uploading videos to her YouTube which can be found on her page. Her goal is to promote an image of a healthy lifestyle paired with academic development for all STEM majors. Make sure to talk to her via Instagram and share your favorite science concepts!

Are you ready to kickstart your academic or professional career in a STEM field, but get overwhelmed by all of the options that pop up on your search engine?

If you are interested in entering one of the many careers offered in a STEM industry, check out these websites that break through the noise and provide information about financial aid, college scholarships, and specialized programs. There is also information about impending growth in various STEM fields and prospective salaries.

Leave a comment and let us know - what are your favorite resources for early career Scientistas?

About the AuthorRobbin Koenig, M.A., M.S. is an educator with an avid interest in technology and science education. She has taught students in prekindergarten through high school. Robbin enjoys volunteer work, exploring the N.Y.C. cultural arts scene, and anything pertaining to wildlife.

Are you seeking a lab? Looking to move to your first postdoc position? Do you feel that you are unfit for your current position and are trying to find a lab that matches your priorities and aligns well with your career aspirations? These are some of the few questions that you or someone you know has while they’re thinking of their next positions in academia. Well, the solution is near! I had the opportunity to learn about Scismic which aims to help researchers find the right lab that meets their list of priorities. To learn more, read my interview with Elizabeth Wu, the CEO and co-founder of Scismic.

Sadaf Atarod: So what does Sciscmic envision? Tell us a bit more about your story.

Elizabeth Wu: We started Scismic to help scientists, much like ourselves, find training environments that nurture their career progression. We have realised that unhappy lab experiences may be due to the lab not being the right match. And, that this in turn results in a loss of talent and opportunity to push science forward. To address this problem and keep researchers motivated, as well as to foster their talent, we started up Scismic. It provides information on lab environments, and allows researchers to find labs that meet their needs.

SA: How many co-founders are there and how did you all meet?

EW: We are three co-founders who met in academia some years ago. We saw that a mismatch in training priorities led to dissatisfaction, which went on to decreased productivity and sometimes anxiety and depression. We connected with each other in wanting to find a way to match the right training environments with a postdoc and grad student’s training needs.

SA: It is definitely a very interesting model, but how do you curate the data from labs and what they offer?

EW: Our database, called Lab Seeker, shows lab reviews based on user-provided information from our lab survey. Identity of reviewers is confidential. Researchers can easily sign up and complete the survey for the labs they have worked at to provide a rating of those labs for the set of criteria covered: mentorship, management, work life balance, funding, and institutional policy. In turn, scientists looking for labs can access this searchable database for free and find out what the strong points of each lab might be and whether it matches their own training needs.

SA: Do you collect information on how long a postdoc takes in a lab?

EW: That’s a good question. We do collect data on how long an average postdoc takes at a specific lab. The questions are almost all multiple choice and as objective as possible.

SA: Who are the main target users of Scismic?

EW: Anyone planning to do research in an academic lab. Laboratory interns, research assistants, grad students, post docs etc.

SA: Have you received any support from the PI’s?

EW: The PIs that we have approached are quite supportive and do believe that researchers should have quality information on how to select their lab. We have even had a few PIs officially endorse us. The late Dr. Ben Barres from Stanford actually contributed questions and helped us shape the survey. Researchers shouldn't be just following the science, all the other factors that they need to consider are also important in their training.

SA: Can PIs sign in and see if they are on the database?

EW: Definitely, they can sign up and see if they have been rated on the website. However, they can’t see who rated them.

SA: So what can we do on our part to help collect this information?

EW: We need more users to register to build the database. The more researchers that sign up and complete our survey, the more data we can have on board to help others choose their best fit lab.This is a chance for scientists to help each other by highlighting their training experiences.

EW: Rate my Professor is focused on the teaching quality of professors. Scismic focuses on the research training ability of a PI. We provide more detail, questions are more objective, and we evaluate the entire experience, including institutional policy. We provide a well-rounded view of the environment.

SA: What is your umbrella view for how Scismic can be utilised?

EW: We want to increase transparency of what training environments are, so that researchers can choose labs based on their training styles. I'd love for it to be used as a reliable metric for evaluation. We also recognise that if you are a newly established PI, and if one person evaluates you poorly, it may have an impact on your rating. However, we do not intend for it to endanger the career of a young PI, but to reflect the overall lab environment. For this reason, we make the number of raters visible to users while maintaining user anonymity. We are also constantly thinking of ways to ensure user security and address this concern of PIs.

SA: Are your users just based in the life sciences?

EW: Currently, we are focused on life sciences but in no way restricted and therefore, open to other fields too.

SA: What do you envision the next step for Scismic to be?

EW: We are working to allow it to suggest labs based on the researcher’s preferences. In the future we also envision helping scientists find empowering jobs both in academic and non-academic roles.

About the AuthorSadaf Atarod, PhD. is dedicated to transferring more bench-side knowledge to bedside. Thus, improving patient treatment outcome has been the central focus of her career to-date. She was awarded her Ph.D. degree in the Molecular Biology of Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplantation. Currently, she is a Postdoctoral Associate at the Center for Regenerative Medicine of Boston University and Boston Medical Center. In her present research, Sadaf is investigating the biomechanical determinants of lung cell fate. Her research involves using stem cells for tissue engineering applications. She is passionate about public engagement, science communication and mentoring the next generation to kick start their careers in science & technology!

Considering how you manage your time in an academic setting can benefit your health by reducing stress and boosting confidence.

There are four dimensions to understanding time management; finding a balance between these can make or break your semester/project.

1.Evaluate your study spaces and how you treat your time: are you messy and distracted? Is there a better location you can study, or a block of time when you may be more focused (i.e. after coffee or after a nap?)

2.Consider how you prioritize your goals: are you aware of what needs to be done and how much time it is going to take to complete the task at hand? Do you identify differences between wants, tasks, needs, goals, and projects?

3.Use of tools: are you using tools available to you in the correct way? Consider using a planner/monthly calendar or to-do list to help visualize, identify, and organize your goals.

4.Perception of time: the most successful people are usually the ones who actively think about and try to achieve their success. Don’t spend your day bored, and recognize how self-motivation and determination can factor into your accomplishments. Don’t forget to reward yourself as you meet your goals, and don’t be hard on yourself if you miss a check mark - time management tools are supposed to help you, not hurt you.

A note on procrastination: Don’t do it! Break big projects into smaller, more easily achievable chunks. Reward yourself as you accomplish parts. Do a little bit every day. Keep in mind that something has to be done last, but there is a way to detach the stress from deadlines.

About the AuthorAva is an undergraduate student earning her Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Physics through Northern Arizona University. She relies heavily on organization and planning to make the most of her education, focused on exploring the intersection between Astronomy and Chemistry. Not only is she passionate about her own science education, but also seeks to increase access to the field for children at a local level. She believes her role in breaking down barriers is sparking an early love for science, advocating for a greater representation of all voices, and taking her own steps to increase international scientific communication; she practices American Sign Language and Spanish by immersing herself with communities of learners. When she's not in the library studying, she'll be on a mountain practicing yoga, or poolside spending time with her family.

A portfolio of work is no longer just for the visual and fine arts. Many people in the STEM fields, especially those interested in technology, benefit from putting together a collection of their past work to demonstrate their strengths to a potential employer. A portfolio, which can be in the form of a personal website, includes examples of pieces that demonstrate your expertise in a variety of areas and works of which you are most proud. Here, we provide suggestions of a portfolio for someone in software development, but it can be adapted for anyone working in a majority of STEM fields.

Be Prepared

First, projects that highlight your skills and education are essential to helping employers gain a sense of your work experience. For instance, when applying to be a developer, if you don’t already have code samples available on your portfolio to show during the interview process, it’s possible that your potential employer will ask you to work on sample projects (most likely without pay) during a probation period. However, on a ready-made website, you can feature games and other interactive projects that demonstrate your skills and prove to your employer that you can jump straight into your new job.

Let Your Creativity Shine

If you have time to work on a more elaborate project, then creating a unique portfolio that sets you apart from other professional websites could be the key to demonstrating your skills or showcasing your volunteer experience (see this interactive, video game-like resume for inspiration). You can also create or link to previous long-term programming projects, such as if you redesigned a website or an app for a local business or charity. These options are excellent for highlighting your creativity, without the pressure of building something from scratch. They also provide your potential employer the opportunity to see how the site you built is (or could be) used in the community.

Robby Leonardi’s interactive, video game-style resume encourages engagement by demonstrating skills and experience in a unique format like this one.

Always Link Your Research

Your portfolio should also include any featured publications and research experience. Link the portfolio to either an abstract or a full article, if currently published. If you’ve presented your research at a conference and have a video of your presentation, you can embed the clip into the section where you discuss your research. If you’re just getting started, don’t worry! Many companies value your work on open-source projects that are specifically geared towards beginning programmers. Natasha the Robot’s guide to contributing to open-source is an excellent resource for getting started; she recommends that new open-source contributors get their toes wet by working on documentation or smaller issues that have been flagged by others.

Don’t Stop at a Website, Build a Network

Be sure to create an online presence by linking your portfolio on professional social media sites, such as LinkedIn. While a developer’s portfolio should feature their best samples of code, Github can also show a potential employer coding history – how often you committed changes to a repository, which projects you worked on to learn different programming languages, and how you have adapted to the ever-changing technologies in the field. This provides employers a more complete history of your research experience. You can use your judgment to decide whether to include personal projects here as well.

Don’t Forget About the Hard-Copy

Building a portfolio of your best pieces of work can be a great tool, one that is useful for showing a potential employer why your skills and experience are the perfect match for a new position. Even though the portfolio should reflect more information than what can be covered in your 1-page resume, be sure to include a link to a printer-friendly version, since many employers still rely on hard-copy resumes.

Keep Your Portfolio Up-To-Date

Finally, remember that your portfolio should consistently be updated! When you create new content or transition to a new job or field of expertise, make sure your portfolio is updated to reflect the change. You’ll look polished and ready for whatever comes next.

About the Author

Niharika Vattikonda is a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School Science and Technology, where she is studying computer science and economics. In the future, she hopes to work on sustainable development policy that brings stability and catalyzes technology-driven growth in the nation’s economy by preparing students for 21st century technology jobs. To that end, Niharika represents almost 188,000 K-12 students of the 10th largest school system in the United States on the Fairfax County School Board, where she works to make sure education policy includes computer programming and algorithmic thinking from an early age. She also is the founder of Teens Transforming Technology, a student-run nonprofit that provides access to computer science for low-income neighborhoods and underrepresented populations from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. In school, she serves as the Director of Internal Affairs for Coding Lady Colonials, where she creates the annual computer science curriculum for all members, oversees the CSterhood mentorship program for younger students, and organizes her school’s hackathon, HackTJ. When she’s not researching an effective education policy, designing a coding activity for her club members, or planning her nonprofit’s next initiative, Niharika loves being a delegate in Model United Nations and enjoys reading and learning more about economic development using 21st century technology.